The way most of us in the media harp on about away breaks and getting out of the city, you’d think there’s nothing worth seeing in the centre of Copenhagen.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Furthermore, while the capital is the undoubted cultural centre of this country, it does not rest on its laurels.
Every year, there is no end to the number of new cultural events and exhibitions in town. Read on for three of the most recent additions to the line-up, along with a unique opportunity to make some festive decorations at Design Museum Denmark. It is Christmas after all!
A majestic history
permanent exhibition, open daily 10:00-17:00; Lapidarium of Kings, Christian IV’s Bryghus, Frederiksholms Kanal 29, Cph K; 50kr, under-18s 25kr; kongerneslapidarium.dk
Christian IV’s brewhouse, the unique setting for the Lapidarium of Kings, is one of Copenhagen’s oldest buildings, dating as far back as 1608. Under its rustic vaults, sculptures of kings on horseback, Greek goddesses and an army of other-worldly Nordic peasants are ready to welcome you.
The Lapidarium of Kings covers a 4,000 sqm area and contains around 300 sculptures and architectural fragments from Danish palaces, gardens and squares.
The Brain
permanent exhibition, open daily 10:00-17:00; Experimentarium City, Trangravsvej 10-12, Cph K; 160kr under-12s 105kr; experimentarium.dk
This special exhibition offers a wide range of activities that will pull your brain out of familiar routines and challenge it to a mental workout. Get tested to see how good your memory is and if you can concentrate without getting distracted.
You can also find out if your senses can fool you and manipulate your brain. Take the bridge through the tunnel in the exhibition and feel how the bridge teeters beneath your feet. Or does it?
Painting as nature
ends Jan 18; North Atlantic House, Strandgade 91, Cph K; 40kr, under-12s free adm; nordatlantens.dk
Guðrún Einarsdóttir’s works are based on experiments with oils, binders and solvents. She produces her works on nature’s terms rather than the landscape traditions, and her approach is more akin to that of a scientist than an artist.
In so doing, she brings the ‘subterranean life’ of her paintings to the surface and goes on to interfere with the creative process to a certain extent, turn the biological process to her advantage, and use the results to suggest further development of the works.
Christmas workshops at the Design Studio
Dec 7 & 14, 13:00-16:00; Design Museum Denmark, Bredgade 68, Cph K; free adm; designmuseum.dk
Design Museum Denmark invites families to join the Christmas workshops in the Design Studio. At the workshops you can design your very own Christmas tree decorations and try out embroidery cornets and textile Christmas chimes.
The Christmas workshops are for everyone. What’s more, they’re free and no enrolment is necessary.
Find out more at http://www.cphmuseums.com/.
